2020 New Vegetables

Luffa Cylindrica

100+ Days from transplant. Cucumber like fruits that can be used for cooking or dried to produce a luffa. Requires hot, long growing conditions. Start indoors in early April, transplant out in the garden after risk of frost has passed. Growign 2m tall, Luffas will need supprtive trellis to grow up on. Great for use as a sponge in the kitchen or a body scrub in the shower. Use of a heat mat will help with germination and plant production. Can be prone to transplant shock. Ensure plants have been hardened off properly before planting out. If risk of cold weather protect with a cloche. Harvest fruits when they are 30cm long and turn brown prior to frost in the fall. Approx. 15 seeds.

*Use of a heat mat is crucial as germination often occurs around 26 degrees. Plant needs heat and sun to produce.